Tramadol
(TRAM a dol)
Brand Names:
Ultram, Ultram ER,
What is the most important information I should know about Tramadol?
You
should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Take tramadol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger
doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Do not take more than 300
milligrams of tramadol in one day.
Do not stop using this medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.
You may need to gradually reduce the dose. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when
you stop using tramadol. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, sweating, nausea,
diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing
problems. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these withdrawal symptoms
after you stop using tramadol.
Do not crush the tramadol tablet. This
medicine is for oral (by mouth) use only. Powder from a crushed tablet should
not be inhaled or diluted with liquid and injected into the body. Using this
medicine by inhlation or injection can cause life-threatening side effects,
overdose, or death.
Seizures (convulsions) have occurred in some people taking tramadol. You may
be more likely to have a seizure while taking tramadol if you have a history of
seizures or head injury, a metabolic disorder, or if you are taking certain
medicines such as antidepressants, muscle relaxers, or medicine for nausea and
vomiting.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too
much of this medicine. A tramadol overdose can be fatal. Symptoms of a tramadol
overdose may include drowsiness, shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, extreme
weakness, cold or clammy skin, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma. While
you are taking tramadol, do not drink alcohol or use drugs that make you sleepy
(such as cold medicine, other pain medications, muscle relaxants, and medicine
for seizures, depression or anxiety). These drugs may slow your breathing or
increase drowsiness when used together with tramadol. Tramadol can cause side
effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or
do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What is Tramadol?
Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever.
Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol extended-release
is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain when treatment is needed around
the clock.
Tramadol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
Tramadol?
You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to
drugs or alcohol. Do not take tramadol if you are intoxicated (drunk), or if you
have recently used any of the following drugs:
-
alcohol;
-
narcotic pain medicine;
-
sedatives or tranquilizers (such as Valium);
-
medicine for depression or anxiety;
-
medicine for mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia);
or
-
street drugs.
Seizures have occurred in some people taking tramadol. Your risk of a seizure
may be higher if you have any of these conditions:
-
a history of drug or alcohol addiction;
-
a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
-
a history of head injury; or
-
a metabolic disorder.
Talk with your doctor about your individual risk of having a seizure from
this medicine.
Before taking tramadol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or
if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use tramadol, or
you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA
pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tramadol
may also cause serious or fatal side effects in a newborn if the mother uses the
medication during pregnancy or labor. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or
plan to become pregnant during treatment. Tramadol can pass into breast milk and
may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor
if you are breast-feeding a baby. Older adults may be more sensitive to the
effects of tramadol. If you are over 65, your doctor may recommend a lower dose.
Tramadol should not be given to a child younger than 16 years of age.
How should I take Tramadol?
Take tramadol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger
doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label. Do not take more than 300 milligrams of tramadol in one
day.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Tramadol can be taken with or without food, but take it the same way each
time.
Do not crush the tramadol tablet. This medicine is for oral (by mouth)
use only. Powder from a crushed tablet should not be inhaled or diluted with
liquid and injected into the body. Using this medicine by inhlation or injection
can cause life-threatening side effects, overdose, or death. Do not crush, chew,
or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially
made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking the pill would cause too
much of the drug to be released at one time.
If you use the tramadol extended-release tablet, the tablet shell may pass
into your stools (bowel movements). This is normal and does not mean that you
are not receiving enough of the medicine.
Tramadol may be habit-forming. Tell
your doctor if you feel the medicine is not working as well in relieving your
pain. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor.
Do not stop using this medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.
You may need to gradually reduce the dose. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when
you stop using tramadol. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, sweating, nausea,
diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing
problems. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these withdrawal symptoms
after you stop using tramadol.
Store tramadol at room temperature away from
moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of Tramadol?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your
next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly
scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose with Tramadol?
Seek emergency medical
attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. A tramadol
overdose can be fatal.
Symptoms of a tramadol overdose may include drowsiness, shallow breathing,
slow heartbeat, extreme weakness, cold or clammy skin, feeling light-headed,
fainting, or coma.
What should I avoid while taking Tramadol?
Do not drink alcohol while
you are taking tramadol. Alcohol may cause a dangerous decrease in your
breathing when used together with tramadol.
Avoid using drugs that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, other pain
medications, muscle relaxants, and medicine for seizures, depression or
anxiety). These drugs may slow your breathing or increase drowsiness when used
together with tramadol.
Tramadol can cause side effects that may impair your
thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you
to be awake and alert.
What are the possible side effects of Tramadol?
Get emergency medical
help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty
breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using tramadol
and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
seizure (convulsions);
-
a red, blistering, peeling skin rash; or
-
shallow breathing, weak pulse.
Continue taking tramadol and talk to your doctor if you have any of these
less serious side effects:
-
dizziness, drowsiness, weakness;
-
nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite;
-
blurred vision;
-
flushing (redness, warmth, or tingly feeling); or
-
sleep problems (insomnia).
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor
about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Tramadol?
You may be more likely to have a seizure (convulsions) if you take tramadol
while you are using certain other medicines. Do not take tramadol without
telling your doctor if you also use any of the following:
-
an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine
(Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam); or
-
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), citalopram (Celexa),
clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro),
fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil),
nortriptyline (Pamelor); paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline
(Zoloft).
Before taking tramadol, tell your doctor if you also use:
-
carbamazepine (Tegretol);
-
warfarin (Coumadin);
-
digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
-
ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab);
-
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
-
St. John's wort;
-
quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinadex, Cardioquin, Quinora); or
-
drugs that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, other pain medications,
muscle relaxants, and medicine for seizures, depression or
anxiety).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use tramadol or
you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect tramadol. Tell your
doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information on Tramadol?
- Your pharmacist has more information about tramadol written for health
professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Tramadol is available with a prescription under the brand names Ultram and
Ultram ER. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your
pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new
to you.
-
Tramadol 50 mg--white, capsule-shaped, film-coated tablets.
-
Ultram ER 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg--white, round extended-release
tablets.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the
indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by
Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no
guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be
time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare
practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless
specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse
drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an
informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in
caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a
supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and
judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given
drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the
drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or
adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check
with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Click here for more
information on
Tramadol
from the manufacturer.
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 9.03. Revision date: 8/11/06
9:17:45 AM.